Agent in fear of violence over ute

Anger management lessons didn’t pay off for Trevor Charles Watkins when his ute was being repossessed - he threatened the agent with violence.

According to the summary of facts, the Taranaki man told the agent: ‘‘You’ve got three minutes [to leave] otherwise I’m going to shoot you’’, the New Plymouth District Court was told during a hearing yesterday, where Watkins was sentenced by Judge Josephine Bouchier for behaving threateningly.

The summary of facts was disputed by defence lawyer Megan Boyd, who alleged Watkins instead said: ‘‘You’ve got three minutes otherwise I’m going to smash you.’’

But she acknowledged that, either way, there was a threat when the victim went to Watkins’ Waitara address in November last year to repossess his vehicle.

In a victim impact statement provided to the court, the agent said in his 18 years on the job it was the ‘‘worst incident he had ever had’’.

Boyd said the dispute was made more complicated by the fact Watkins’ partner had been assured the ute would not be repossessed that day.

When the agent disagreed, Watkins became agitated, said the summary.

The 45-year-old then proceeded to remove the rear wheels from his vehicle, and the car battery.

Knife

As he continued to walk past the agent, he spat at the ground within close proximity to where he was standing.

He then grabbed a boning knife, which he used to cut his pounamu off the rear vision mirror, brushing up against the victim while holding the knife.

Watkins then told the agent he had five minutes to leave his property.

The victim told Watkins that once the ute was loaded on to the tow truck he would be on his way from the site.

At that point Watkins threatened him.

The victim became anxious and started to panic, telling the tow truck driver to leave and that he would phone police.

As the agent left, Watkins threw two stones at his car, narrowly missing it.

Boyd said her client had a history of violent offending but had completed anger management in the past.

‘‘He was attempting to use some of the techniques but perhaps not very well.’’

In a victim impact statement provided to the court, the agent said he had been left feeling shaken.

Bouchier said the man had a right to feel safe while carrying out his job.

‘‘It’s not an easy job being a repo agent.’’

She sentenced Watkins to pay the victim $500 emotional harm reparation and placed him on a nine-month good behaviour bond.